-Caveat Lector-
There's No Such Thing As a Free Lunch
President Gets Free Meal; Dispute About Who Got the Check
By Svein Michelsen
L O N D O N, Dec. 15 - A West London pub owner says Bill Clinton walked out
without paying for a meal - but a presidential aide insists the owner said
it was on the house.
President Clinton was enjoying his last visit to Britain while still in
power when he popped into The Portobello Gold on Thursday for a quick bite
to eat.
Owner Mike Bell says he was delighted to accommodate Clinton, along
with a swarm of secret service agents, on his surprise visit - at least
until he realized the most powerful man on earth had left without paying.
"They bloody well did not pay the bill," Bell was quoted as saying to
one British newspaper.
The story caused a stir in news outlets around the world.
British tabloid newspaper The Mirror says it volunteered to pay for the
president's meal - to avoid an international incident.
But it also grabbed the chance to run with the headline "We Pay Bill
for Bill" splashed over its front page.
After the story was broadcast on ABCNEWS' World News Tonight, a member
of the Clinton administration called to say an aide offered to pay the bill
before the president left.
Compensated With Publicity
The presidential tab came to a total of $36.22, for a large chicken ciabatta
sandwich, a half a pint of beer, a helping of prawns and smoked trout and
pecan nut pate.
But the pub has since gotten more than its money's worth - especially
in apologies and publicity.
"They've paid twice now," pub chef Boss Goodman said with a broad grin,
referring to the tabloid and an apologetic American embassy that insisted on
picking up the tab.
He was more impressed with the president's appetite than his apparent
reluctance to pay.
"I wouldn't quite say he did a runner. I just don't think it occurred
to him to pay," a more diplomatic landlord Bell said later when the matter
was settled.
Is Chelsea the Next Deadbeat?
This is not the first time the first family has left a member of the
catering trade less than amused. First lady Hillary failed to tip a waitress
during a campaign stop at an upstate New York diner early this year, a gaffe
seized upon by then-senatorial rival New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Business was brisk at The Portobello Gold today.
In fact, three young men from Florida decided to follow in the
footsteps of the outgoing president by paying the pub a visit. All ardent
Republicans, they said they would pay for their drinks.For the rest of the
day's top world stories, click here, to our International News page.
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